Pressing iron



June 24, 1930. F. 1. CLARK 1,766,603

PRES S ING IRON Filed June 15,. 1927 A" I l gril..

Patented .lune 24, `1930 UNITED, STATES PATENT OFFICE FREDERICK J. CLARK, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 STEAK PRESSING IRON COMPANY, F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS Application ledjune 15,

rlhis invention relates to pressing irons and the like, and particularly to the Huid control valves which arefrequently provided on such irons. It is also in the nature of an improvement upon the type of pressing iron or the like disclosed and claimed in my prior copending application Serial No. 95,262, filed March 17, 1926.

An object of this invention is to generally lo improve and simplify pressing irons and the like having fluid control valves.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved pressing iron or the like with which a more satisfactory and convenient control of the fluid controlling valve may be obtained; with which the manipulation of the valve may be made more convenient, and also made adjustable for the greater convenience of different persons who may use the iron; with which the danger of injury to cloth being ironed or pressed by improper operation of the valve is greatly reduced, and which will be exceptionally simple, durable, compact, convenient and relatively inexpensive.

Various other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description of an embodiment of the invention, and the novel features will be particularly pointed out hereinafter in connection with the appended claims.

ln the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan of a pressing iron constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is a plan of a portion of the same, with a part of the valve controlling mechanism in section; v

Fig. 4 is asimilar plan, but with the parts in a dierent operative position;

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation of'a portion of the iron, and showing the Huid conducting passages;

Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation of a portion of the iron, the section being taken approximately along the line 6-6 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a similar elevation, but taken as indicated along the line 7-7 of Fig. 4; ando Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation of a portion PRESSING IRON 1927. Serial No. 198,942.

of the same, with the section taken approximately along the line S-Spf Fig. 1.

1n the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the pressing iron may be of any suitable shape or size, and comprises a body 1 provided with a suitable handle 2 by which it may be manipulated. This iron may be heated in any desired manner, such as by electricity, gas or steam, but in the illustrated embodiment it is indicated as of the electrically heated type, having the usual socket guard 3 at its rear end for receiving the socket plug, (not shown) of an electrical connection cable, as usual in electricV pressing irons.

fluid, such as steam or other source of moisture, may be conducted into the iron through a suitable fluid supply conduit (not shown) connected to a pipe 4 leading into the body of the iron from the upper surface thereof, as shown in Figs. l' and 2. This pipe 4 leads into the interionof the body of the iron 1, and may be connected by internal conduits 5 and 6 with a valve casing 7 which may be secured tothe upper face of the body of the iron 1 in any sui-table manner, such as by screws 8. The valve casing 7 has a pair of conduits 9 and 10 therein opening through the lower face thereof in spaced relation to one another, and also opening into a valve assage 11, Figs. 3 and 4, on opposite sides o a valve seat 12 of that passage. One of said conduits, such as the conduit 9, .communicates with the conduit 6 of the iron body, and the conduit 10 of the valve casing may communicate with a passage or conduit 13 in the iron body. The passage 13 infturn communicates with a distributing chamberA 14 provided in the lower part of the iron body near and closely adjacent to. the pressing surface 15 of that body, as usual in this type of pressing iron.

The valve casing 7 has a cylindrical or tubular extension 16 projectin therefrom endwise of the iron, and at its ee end this extension is provided with a. stuing box 17 through which extends, and in which is guided, a valve. stem or operating element' 18. This valve stem reciprocates throu h the stuilng box, and in the passage 11. T e

stem, at its inner end, terminates in a conical valve point 19 which is adapted to seat itself in the valve seat 12 and close the passage 11 whenever the stein is forced inwardly.

Thus the valve stem, by its position with re- `are connected by a c am ing screw 24, so

that this arm may be a justably clamped to the cylindrical extension of the valve casing by a tightenin of the screw 24. The opposite arm of the racket extends across the axis of the valve stem and is provided with an aperture into which a bearing bushing 26 may be threaded, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. A helical compression spring 27 may be confined on the valve stem 18 between an end of the bushing 26 and a collar 28 of the stem-18, so as to urge or bias the valve stem yieldingly and inwardly into closed position on the valve seat 12.

A lever 29 is loosely and rotatably confined on the outer end of the valve stem 18 between an abutment or collar 30 threaded upon the outer end of the stem and the adjacent end face of the bushing 26, the aperture in the lever 29 through which the stem extends being somewhat larger than the diameter of the stem so as to permit of a fluid regulating movement of the lever 29. Thus, when the lever 29 is rocked by.

the movement of its free 4end in a direction lengthwise -of the iron, the lever will fulcrum at a int intermediate of its ends against the ushing 26, and at its free end will engage and cam outwardly the collar 30 of the stem and thus will cam the valve stem outwardly against the action of the biasing s ring 27. This action is illustrated in igs. 3 and 4, the valve stem bein shown as in closed ition in Fig. 3 an being illustrated in, ig.4 as vhaving been shifted Y`irito"'tlie open position by the movement of the lever 29 just described.

An operating button 31 is rovided'on the 'lever `29 at its free end, an this button 31 is positioned adjacent one end of the handle 2 so as to be convenient for operation by a digit of ones hand while that hand is grasping the handle and manipulating the iron. For example, with the button isposed at the forward end of the handle 2, as illustrated, the button 31 may be 4readily engaged by the thumb of ones hand which is asping the handle and the button and ever operated to shift the valve stem without removing the hand from the handle 2. The bracket 22 .may be angularly adjusted around the cylindrical extension 16 of the valve casing, so as to lace the button 31 adjacent the end of the andle 2 at the point which is most convenient for the person expected to operate the iron.

A plate 32 may be secured to the free end of and form an a lar arm or continuation of the side arm o the U-shaped bracket 22 through which the valve stem extends. The plate is provided with an aperture or guiding slot 33 throu h which the lever 29 extends, and in w Ich it is guided. This notch or a rture 33 may be L-sha d as shown in igs. 6 and 7, one arm or ranch of the L extending parallel with the axis.

of the stem 18, and 'the other arm of the L extendi in a direction transverse to the direction o movement of the valve stein 18. Thus the lever 29 will be first guided along the horizontal arm of the L slot as it is moved to shift the valve stein into o n position, the branch of the L in which t e lever 29 is then moving bein of suicient length to permit movement o the valve stem into open position before reaching the end of that branch of the slot. O

When the lever 29 meets the end of the horizontal branch of the L slot 33 the valve stem will be in open position and the lever will be in alinement with the other or transverse branch of the L-shaped aperture or slot 33, whereupon the lever 29 may be shifted laterally ofthe direction of its previous movement, that is, it may be rotated to a limited extent about the axis of the stem 18 so as to move into the offset or other branch of the L-sha ries the lever 29 be ind a shoulder 34 of the slot, and this shoulder revents movement of the lever 29 under t e influence or ur of the s ri 27. Thus the lever 29 wi l be releasably. eld in open position, and the valve stem will permit free flowpf fluid to the distributing chamber 14. To release the controlling lever or element 29, it is merely nry to first rotate it about the axis of the stem 18 until it is disengaged from the shoulder 34, whereupon the spring 27 returns the valve stem to closed position and shifts the lever 29 back along the horizontal branch of the L-shaped slot 33, provided the o rator rmits such movement b releasin theV utton 3l from the di 't o the han controlli it.

t will be noted that the ever 29 lwhich` d slot 33. This car' A of itself in, or the releasing of itself from,

. secured releasably in a number of diiferent adjusted positions, thus variably controlling the'iiow of uid through the valve casing.

By being able to secure the valve in open or partially open position, there `is little danger of an operator unintentially and vunknowingly partially or entirely releasing the button 31 and thus partially or entirely shutting olf the valve while manipulating the iron, and Atherefore the danger of injury to the cloth by the absence of moisture is very greatly reduced.

The stem 18 1s free to rotate about its own axis, except for the friction resistance offered by the spring 27 and other parts engaging the stem. If any particles .of sol1d matter, such as dirt, should work into the valve passage 1l and interfere lwith the closing of the stem 18, such particles may be easily removed Without dismantllng the valve mechanism merely by rotating the stem about its own axis, or by tapping upon the outer end of the stem in a direction endwise of the stem, or byboth tapping and rotating the stem.

To prevent wobbling of the stem 18 1n the packing box, a guiding sleeve 18a in which the stem 18 is rotatably and slidably fitted may be disposed in the valvepassage 11 and confined therein against a shoulder of that passage by the packing of the box 1 7. The collar 30 may be releasably secured 1n adjusted positions by a lock nut 3WL threaded upon the outer end of the stem and a spring split washer 30? disposed o n the stem 18 between the collar 30 and the lock nut 80a.

it will be noted that the valve controlling parts are all mounted on the valve casing, and the casing detachably secured on the body of the iron, which greatly simplifies the construction and facilitates the assembly of the iron. The casing and parts mounted thereon consitute a unit removably attachableto the iron. rlhe extent of movement vof the valve stem for any given movement of the controlling lever or member 29 may be varied to some extent by adjustmg the collar 30 along the valve stem.

1t will be understood that varlous changes in the details, which have been here1n described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of the invention, may be made by those skilled'in the art Within the principle and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

1. vIn a pressing iron or the like provided With a handle, a fluid controlling valve having a valve stem, and means for operating said valve stem including a controlling member extending into a position for operation by a digit of ones hand while that hand is grasping said handle, means mounting said member,A for rocking movement in one path to cause movement of the valve stem, and also independently of that movement in a direction transversely to said path, said iron having a .portion cooperating with said member when the latter is moved transversely to said path, while at a particular point of its movement in said path, for securing said member releasably at said point.

2. ln a pressing iron or the like provided with a handle, a fluid controlling valve having a valve stem, means for operating said valve stem and including a controlling member extending into a position for operation by a digit of ones hand while that hand is grasping said handle, means mounting said member for movement in one path to cause operation of said valve stem, and also shiftable laterally of that path Without causing operation of said valve stem, and a guide for said member having a notch in a side wall thereof into which said member by movement laterally of said :path may be shifted to latch the member in a selected position int-o which it may be moved.

3. ln a pressing iron or the like, provided with a handle, a fluid controlling valve having an operating element movable between open and closed positions and yieldingly biased into one of said positions, said element having an abutment, a lever engageable against said abutment and fulcrumed against said iron for operating said element against its bias into the other of said positions, means mounting said lever for independent movement along said abutment in a direction transverse to the movement it imparts to said element, and means cooperating with said lever when the latter h-as been shifted transversely after movement of saidvelement into said other of said positions, l

for securing said lever in that position.

a. In a pressing iron or the like, provided with a handle, a iuid controlling valve having an operating element movable between open and closed fpositions and yieldingly biased into one o ment having an abutment, a lever engageable against said abutment and fulcrumed against said iron for operating said ele-` ment against its bi-as into the other of said ositions, means mounting said lever for independent movement along said abutment in a direction trallSverse to the movement said positions, said eleit imparts to said element, and an abutment on said iron behind which said lever may be en ged and releasably secured when shif transversely after it has moved said element into said other of said position whereby said element may be releasably hel in said other of said positions. y Y

5. In a press' iron or the like provided with a handle, a uid controlling valve having .an operating stem and resihently biased in endwise direction into one iluid cmtrolling position, a lever freely rotatable on said stem, means limiting endwise movement of said lever on said stem, a fulcrum upon which said lever may be rocked and lengthwise of which it may beA moved while rotating on said stem to shift said stem endwise into another fluid controlling ition,. and securing means with which said lever may* be engaged by its rotation on said stem to hold said lever ina selected ition into which it may be moved against its bias while operating said stem.

6. In a pressm iron or the like provided with a handle, a uid controlling` valve having an o rating stem and resihently biased in endwise direction into one lluid controlling position, alever rotatable on said stem, means limiting endwise movement of said lever on said stem, a fulcrum upon which said lever may be rocked and lengthwise of which it may move while rotating on said stem, to shift said stem endwise into another iiud controlling osition, and an abutment behind which sai lever may be latched by its rotation on said stem to secure said lever releasably in a selected position into which it may be moved against its bias while operating said stem.

7. In a press' iron or the like provided with a handle, a uid controlling valve havingl an operating stem and a casing with a cy 'ndrical portion through which said stem a bracket guiding said stem between and closed `tions, and having a split ring portion ittmg said cylindrical portion means for drawing together the sections o /said ring onnopposte sides of the slit to clamp said b et to said portion, and permit adjustment of said bracket rotatably about said cylindrical portion, and means connected to said stem and guided by said bracket for operating the stem in one direction 'between said ositions, said means extending into a digit of ones hand while that ing said handle, the adjustment of the rac et permitting adjustment of said means into the position for operation most convenient for any person.

8. In a pressin with a handle, a

and is s uid controlling valve havi'ng an operatin stem, a bracket having an aperture throng which said stem extends for guiding said stem in a direction endp'osition for o eration by a` iron or the like provided irlandesav wise of itself a spring acting between said bracket and the stein for biasing said stem into closed position, said stem having a collar, a lever loosel and` rotatably mounted at one end on sai stem between and bearing said collar and said bracket, where y the lever may fulcrnm against the bracket and when rocked on that fulcrum will by engaging the collar, shift the stein endwise against the action of the spring` and means cooperating with said lever when said lever is rotated upon said stemfor securing the latter and through it the valve in open position.

9. In a pressi iron or the like provided with a handle, a uid controlling valve having an operatinglstem, a bracket having an aperture throug which said stem extends for guidi said stem a spring acting between said racket and the stem for biasing said stem into closed position, said stem having a collar, a lever loosel and rotatably mounted atone end on said Ostem between and against said collar and said bracket, w ere y lthe .lever may fulcrum against the bracket and when rocked on that ulcrum will by engaging the collar, shift the `stein endwise to open the valve against the aion of the spnn and a guide car-1 ried by said bracket an operating with said lever for guiding said lever first in a direction to move the stem in an opening direction and then permitting a limited rotation of said lever about the axis of the stem, the guide and lever coo rating when the latter is rotatably disp aced to secure the lever and through it said stem in open position.

10. In a iron or the like provided with a han e, a uid controlling valve having an operati stem', a bracket having an aperture throug which said stem extends for guidi said stem a spring acting between said racket and the stem for biasing said stem into closed position, said stem havi 'a'collar, and a lever loosely and rotatab y mounted on said stem between and bearing a 'nst said collar and said bracket, said brac et having a slot through which said lever p, said slot being angular with one arm of the L extending approximately parallel to the axis of the stem,

having means cowhereby said lever will be first guided by..-

vried by said iron and having a projecting cylindrical portion and an operatin stem extending outwardly through the cylindrical portion, a bracket havin a slit apertured end adjustably clampe on the cylindrical portion of said valve for rotatable adjustment about the same, the free end of said bracket extending across the axis of the stem and having an aperture for receiving and guiding said stem between open and closed positions, a collar on the outer end of said stem, a lever loosely mounted at one end on said stem between and bearing against said collar and bracket, and a spring acting between said bracket and stem for biasing said stem into closed position, the free end of said lever extending into a position for operation by a digit of ones hand While that hand is grasping the handle, whereby the free end of said lever may be fulcrumed against the bracket to cam the collar and stem outwardly into open position against the action of said spring. 12. In a pressing iron or the like, a valve casing removably secured to the body of the iron land having a fluid passage communieating with the interior of the iron body, a valve element extending into said casing and controlling said passage, a bracket extending from said casing and having a bearing for mounting and guiding said element, an operating member for said element con- 3@ nected thereto for moving it between open and closed positions, said bracket having means to latch said member releasable in one of its positions against movement towards the other position, and said member, said valve element, said casing and said bracket being connected together to form a unitary device attachable to and detachable from the iron body.

FREDERCK J. CLARK. 

